Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-04

as Anarchists. A speedy trial followed in
which the three we're convicted and con-
demned to be hanged. The hanging
took place Immediately and was done so
thoroughly that the youngest OF the trio
was nearly strangled and did not regain
consciousness for several minutes.
Probably nobody was ever more aston
ished than was q merchant in certain
Michigan town last Tuesday morning.
When he went to his store he found
about half hundred men, women, and
boys gathered there. Each had basket
and each basket contained cat. "What
are you paying for cats2" was the query
that came from all sides. He didn't
know what to make OF it, and on his
Indignantly denying that he was in the
cat business one of his would-be Gus
toners pulled the local paper out OF
his pocket and pointed to an advertise
ment. The surprised storekeeper saw
his own name appended to the announce
ment: "Wanted, carload Of cats, for
which the highest cash price will be
paid" Then he saw that he was the
victim of a printers joke or blunder.
He had intended to advertise for oats,
but the misplaced &C" spoiled his pur-
pose completely. Now he threatens to
sue the proprietors OF the paper for
damaging his business and making him
the laughing stock OF the town.
The other evening about 10 o'clock as
William Jackson, a photographer In
Fayetteville, Pa, was preparing TO re-
tire, he struck a common friction match,
lit a lamp, and then held the lighted
match near his mouth to extinguish it by
blowing. As he blew bis breath took
fire, exactly as though the match had
been applied to n gas-jet. II burned
with a vivid blue color. The tame
curled about his face, singeing his nous
tache, eyelashes, and the hair on his
forehead, and burned his lips, tongue,
and the interior of his nostrlls.
The flame soon burned out. Mr.. Jack
sons wife was the only witness to the
affair." The next morning Mr.. Jackson
consulted DR.. Quinby, who made tho
rough investigation of the case. As the
patient is dyspeptic the physician ar
rived at the conclusion that MIR. jackson
is possessed of a stomach which is veri-
table satisfactory. He is total abstainer
from all intoxicating drinks as well as
from tobacco, and he is church member.
The only liquOr ne had been accustomed
TO take was the small amount contained
in nostrum prepared for dyspepsia.
A new mode of telegraphing was tried
by the military authorities of Belgium.
1t is a combination of the electric and
optic telegraph. The optic station is
made ND of a balloon held Mt any height
above the ground. Inside of the boat
foated by the balloon, or ON the bottom
of the boat. six electrical lights were at
taohed, which were connected with an
electric battery on the ground by means
of wires running along the rope which
held the balloon captive. On the ground
there was a Morse telegraphic apparatus.
AN experienced operator spelled mes
sage. the characters of which are regis
tered on common Morse apparatus
by shorter and longer strokes upon a
running band of paper The shorter
or longer the line is upon the paper the
shorter or longer is the time correspond
ing to it during which the electric cur
rent is working. Instead of marking
time on paper, the apparatus used at the
experiments made ut Antwerp keeps the
six lamps attached to the balloon blazing
in bright light. Any man understanding
the Morse alphabet is able to read the
characters given by the successive
flashes Of the electric lamps. 4 number
of messages were thus spelled and cor
rectly read by posts at distances of
several miles. The balloon is only some
three hundred feet above ground. The
higher it is allowed to ascend the greater
is the distance at which its characters
can be seen and understood.